Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. A common theme, in both Paris and Montana, is jealousy and the horrible toll it can take. Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. And the sound of masticating between sentences? So that was a bit of a disappointment to me. All rights reserved. RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022. Instead, Odile consents to an interview for Lilys project about France. I think Paul attacked Margaret to distance himself from his own guilt, directing his self-hatred at her and pretending he wasn't the collaborator, she was. After roaming the streets of Paris, Odile gravitates to the American Hospital, where she once volunteered and does so again. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. The novel is a dual timeline story and the second timeline follows Lily, a young girl in 1980s Montana who is now the neighbor of Odile Souchet. Bottom line? Hard Times. Rmy is wounded in the early fighting and then in a prisoner-of-war camp, where he later perishes. Have you read The Paris Library? Book Review: Reading is a rebellious act in Janet Skeslien Charles's There are public reading rooms, an innovation in French reference libraries, but French people have never developed the habit of using public libraries. Even beyond the wartime drama, her ALP communitymany of them true historical figuresare a wonderfully colorful lot. Show more Genres Historical FictionFictionHistoricalWorld War IIBooks About BooksAudiobook France Its a city I truly love and reading this was a balm for my travel-deprived senses, reliving the City of Lights, even if it was in the pre-war years of the 1940s. When war breaks out, the Nazis are soon in Paris. 823. Located just two blocks from the Eiffel Tower, the private American Library in Paris has welcomed bibliophiles since 1920. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. How did you feel about the format? How did this compare to other WWII novels you have read? And, of course, there was All the Light We Cannot See as well. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . What do you like best about reading WWII historical fiction? I hope that these elements will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of The Paris Library. How might Lilys life have been different without Odile? The main character, Odile, narrates the time in Paris, while a secondary narratora young girl named Lily, who is coming of age in a small Montana town in the 1980sallows the author to revisit Odile later in life and emphasize the timelessness of friendship. Janet Skeslien Charles talks about her novel "The Paris Library" with A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions., Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, "Having lived in an apartment just above the current location of the American Library in Paris, I've always felt connected to the institution and wondered about its story, so I'm grateful to Janet Skeslien Charles for penning such a vivid, enjoyable, based-on-a-true-story tale. He knew arresting those people was wrong. Her newest novel,I Meant to Tell You, was published in November 2022 by Stephen F. Austin State University Press. Additionally, Odile motivates Lily to stand up for herself and insist on achieving her goal to attend college. Margaret eventually tells Odile the secret of her German lover. A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. I think he anger was always visible, I agree with you that Paul was missing from the wrap up of the book but also Odiles parents. Using her own life experiences, Odile guides Lily to accept her overprotective father and her stepmother, who is struggling with two baby boys. The story is told via two parallel narratives. The Paris Library combines a love of literature with an inspirational tale of ordinary people standing up to fight injustice. Enter your email to receive Bookclubs' newsletter with reading recommendations and the most popular book club books each month. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Libraryshows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. Oftentimes, its not surprisingfor instance, Kristin Hannahs The Four Winds is currently number one. Todays topic: Prousts madeleine, should it have been a croissant?. I think he snapped more out of guilt than anything else. I think the Montana one could have been fleshed out a bit better. Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of . There are many wonderful things about this book, not the least being the settings, which are as well painted and written as the rest. A story of courage, defiance and betrayal in Occupied Paris, perfect for fans ofAll the Light We Cannot See, The Book Thief andThe Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. Required fields are marked *. Janet Skeslien Charles has penned an unforgettable novel that spans 60 years and several generations in the midst of historic turning points as dramatic as those we are living through now. I found the Montana parts just unnecessary! The Paris Library Chapters 1-13 Summary & Analysis Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. Do you think that Odile knew that there would be consequences to telling Paul or not? But the author has a clear affection for both Paris and the American Library, where she worked as a programs manager in 2010, and she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse, earning the novel its own place in the pantheon of World War II fiction. A Season in Hell by Rimbaud. Still, though, I did enjoy learning about the real-life American Library in Paris and the push to keep reading alive during the horrors of war. This post contains links to products that I may receive compensation from at no additional cost to you. My sister, who is an avid reader, read the print version at the same time that I listened to the audiobook, and she loved it. 841. Drama. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. Tough and independent, Sallie refuses to let womanhood limit her ambitions as she earns the nickname Queen of the Kincaid Rumrunners. What did you think of this decision by Odile to leave everything behind? Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of genius. When Odile goes to his office to appeal for help finding Professor Cohen, she sees these crow letters, named for the black-hearted people who inform on their neighbors. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Paris Library! Author Janet Skeslien Charles Shares the Story Behind The Paris Library 'The Paris Library': Reading, rebellion and romance meet in Janet Looming war with Germany? Although pragmatic, street-smart middle child Sallie is his intellectual and emotional heir, the Duke leaves his estate to her emotionally oversensitive half brother, Eddie, because hes the only boy. WWII. by Site by AuthorBytes. Odile begins a romance with Paul and thinks she has it all. What are some similar books youve read? 823. (See my struggle to find a recipe for The Nightingale here). View my Affiliate Disclosure page here. Having learned the French language from Odile, Lily has become a Francophile and decides that she will head to the American Library upon her arrival. It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. Discussion questions for The Paris Library: A Novel - BOOKCLUBS.COM But then the Nazis invade Paris and everything changes. But when did you start to suspect a darker side to Paul? The Paris Librarian Character List - BookCompanion Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers is a dream come true. The book also made it clear in the beginning, his disgust with women who snuggled up to Nazis. Apartment building concierge. My novel, The Paris Library, tells the true tale of the international team of librarians who defied the Nazis in order to hand-deliver books to Jewish readers. Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. Together, in ways they least expect it, Odile and Lily will help each other conquer old fears, forgive past sins, and embrace the future. Hugo's friend. Did it satisfy you or were you left wishing for more? World War II Paris during the German occupation forms the setting for an intelligent and sensuously rich novel of a young woman's coming-of-age. It has been called a coming of age book, but in many regards, it is more. Inevitably, Odiles story is more engrossing. And Ashley is a young, very-much-in-love bakery owner specializing in muffins who devotes herself to giving back to the community through a nonprofit that helps community members develop skills and find jobs. Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. After all, she loves to read, speaks fluent English, and has memorized the Dewey Decimal system for cataloguing library books. Why do you think its hard for us not to hold what people do or dont say against them and instead see them with compassion in light of our own fallibility? What did you like more and what did you like less about this novel. Looming war with Germany? Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. One night in search of lost time. Based on the true World War. But the rest is certainly worthy. Carrying the guilt of betraying Margaret, Odile wears Margarets parting gift, the belt, until Lilys high school graduation. These are good times before the war, but when the Nazis invade Paris, everything changes for Odile and her family at home and at the library. She loves everything about books and libraries. His character traits changed so drastically from his introduction. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Fans of Lester's own French novels will be delighted with this wartime story. Odile is initially angry but understands Margarets predicament. Despite the fact that Nazis often destroyed art and literature, they seemed to recognize that learning and reading were still important enough to keep the library open. The girls sounded bratty, the prose almost juvenile. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. In THE PARIS LIBRARY, the beloved library, its staff, and its subscribers come to life and remind us of both the horrors of World War II and the vital role books play in keeping us afloat in difficult times. He felt guilty about what he'd done and took it out on Margaret. Odile initially blames Bitsi, Rmys love and her friend, for his decision but later repairs the friendship. This guide provides access to digital materials at the Library of Congress, links to external websites, and a print bibliography. In fact, her way of coping with strong emotions is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its Dewey Decimal number. Book Club Questions for The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city's most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they've lost. Based on a true World War II story about the heroic librarians of the American Library in Paris (ALP), this book tells an unforgettable tale of romance, friendship and family in the most unusual of situations. A rollicking soap opera that keeps the pages turning with a surfeit of births, deaths, and surprising plot reveals. Odile, who recently eloped with Paul at his urgent request, has no idea what happened and worries when Margaret doesnt attend a party for her and Paul at the Library. 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